Garbage In. Garbage Out.

Garbage in. Garbage out. This is a phrase you’re probably used to hearing or have at least heard it before. It actually originated from the late 1950’s in regards to early computers. However, today it relates to many different scenarios and concepts. For example, our diet. If you put nothing but garbage in (unhealthy, high saturated fat, overly processed foods) garbage will come out in the form of your declining health. The application for GIGO is almost limitless. However as I pondered this phrase, it brought me to a new phrase that I wish would become just as catchy. Holiness in. Holiness out.

What would holiness in and holiness out be besides a funny abbreviation that references the seven dwarfs? (HIHO) I believe it would make us conscious of the need for tweaks in our lifestyle or maybe a complete overhaul. First, defining holiness may be helpful in understanding how it would make this concept work. Holiness can be defined as “sacred, set apart, set apart from profane, a cutting off or separation from what is unclean, and a consecration to what is pure”. That is a lot to grasp and even that warrants meditating on.

God clearly lays out His standard for holiness in the book of Leviticus. In Leviticus 11:44 God says “For I am the LORD your God consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy…” Being holy as God is, is referenced many times in Leviticus and that makes sense. God was laying out the Levitical law that the Israelites were to keep until Jesus eventually would come and fulfill the law. God used Himself as the standard of holiness because what other standard would be acceptable?

Holiness is not just an attitude or mindset. Since God says to be holy as He is, it actually is to encompass and consume our entire being and way of life. It’s not something you should put on when convenient or if it won’t embarrass you around unbelievers. It’s to be so saturated into our being that you can no longer find where it begins and ends. It is the highest standard and as Christians we are called to live the highest standards.

As I think about my own life and see how this applies to me, I realize that holiness is a process. It’s something that you learn and grow in because just because we receive Christ doesn’t mean we automatically know how to live. The bible is our map, the Holy Spirit becomes our compass, Jesus is the captain and God watches over us remaining sovereign. Psalm 32:8,9 says “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule,

Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” God longs to guide us gently rather than having to use drastic measures, but I digress. The more we become familiar with who God is the more we realize what He would find acceptable and unacceptable pertaining to how we live.

A few years ago I finally determined to focus on my spiritual walk. The more I did, the more uncomfortable I became with things I used to be comfortable with. Music, TV shows, and friendships all fell under a spiritual microscope. I didn’t just listen to music anymore, I really began to “listen” to it. What were the lyrics and what did it say about me that I was comfortable with those lyrics? What did it say about me that lewd descriptions of women didn’t phase me? What did it say about what was on the inside, that sex scenes on TV shows or movies weren’t making me look for the exit or my remote?

Psalms 119:9 says “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” The more time I spent with God the more sensitive I became to the things contrary to God. I became more sensitive to what I let my eyes, ears, and body come into contact with. In furthering my walk with God, I was putting holiness in and holiness wanted to come out.

This does not by any means mean I am perfect and have figured this whole holiness thing out. It only means that I see a drastic change in my life by putting holiness in even though I wasn’t always conscious that’s what I was doing. What I have been reaping is holiness out. It’s no longer as difficult to say no to certain things that would’ve required an altar call to give up before. There’s not many primetime shows I watch or even frequent certain channels anymore. I don’t see this as being a wet blanket or devoid of fun. I see this as I’m finally coming to a place where I want God more than I want pleasures of the world. I now try to resist things that will bring me a moment of gratification versus a clear conscience before God.

1 John 2:15-17 says “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” What I want to actually key in on is the last portion. This world is passing. We will not be here forever, but after we do pass we will experience eternity with God or without God. In light of eternity, getting serious about the way we should live actually isn’t an unreasonable request. I said unreasonable, not easy. Living for holiness is waging a war with our flesh or waging a war against ourselves. The bible says the spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41) Our flesh is contrary to the spirit. (Galatians 5:17) But what hope does God give us knowing this is true? “…God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4. The Jesus in us, the Holy Spirit in us , is greater than anything the world can throw at us or even our flesh would try to gravitate towards. That gives us hope that we aren’t fighting a losing battle.

I hope to dive deeper into this concept in my own personal walk and I hope that others will too. Garbage in garbage out is an easy concept to grasp and understand. However, I believe God doesn’t just call us to easy. He calls us to His standard always. Holiness in holiness out is aligning our entire being with who He is. Walked out it is a longing for who He is and to please Him with every portion of our lives.